# Patreon friendly competitor acquisition for creator credibility

> Keep adjacent founders close enough that a future acquisition can add trusted creators instead of just removing competition.

- Canonical HTML: https://growth.iangoh.com/growth-ideas/patreon-friendly-competitor-acquisition-for-creator-credibility/
- Source: [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/12/patreon-story/)
- GrowthDex source hub: [TechCrunch EC-1: The founding story of Patreon](/sources/techcrunch-ec-1-the-founding-story-of-patreon-techcrunch-com/)
- Last checked: 2026-06-07T03:31:31.000Z
- Rarity: rare
- Budget: medium
- Channels: Partnerships, M&A, Creator Economy
- Stages: competitor relationship, creator supply, credibility, acquisition


## Why this can grow

Most startups treat a close competitor as an enemy and lose the option value of trust. Patreon and Subbable had overlapping missions, but Jack Conte and Hank Green shared product screenshots and kept the relationship constructive. When Patreon later acquired Subbable, the deal brought a roster of respected creators and credibility with higher-quality supply. The tactic works when the market is young and creators are still deciding which platform feels aligned with them. A friendly competitor can become a distribution partner, acquisition target, or credibility bridge. The cost is emotional discipline: do not turn every adjacent builder into a public feud.

## Ian's take

From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. A partnership only compounds when both sides get trust or distribution they could not cheaply buy alone. I would start with the smallest shared win, prove it in public or in pipeline, then make the relationship bigger. For acquisition, I would keep the first test narrow enough that a clear yes or no is possible. Broad reach is not useful if the signal is muddy. For this tactic, I would watch one clear growth signal before putting more time or budget behind it.

## Action plan

1. Define one narrow startup segment where patreon friendly competitor acquisition for creator credibility can create a measurable lift.
2. Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the Partnerships and M&A channel.
3. Use the evidence from techcrunch.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
4. Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: one measurable growth signal.
5. Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.

## Source-backed example

Patreon and Subbable founders maintained a cooperative relationship before Patreon acquired Subbable in 2015, adding top-quality creators and credibility that helped Patreon move upstream.

## Adjacent tactics in the same lane

- [Patreon founder as first creator proof](/growth-ideas/patreon-founder-as-first-creator-proof/) - same source, 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage
- [Roblox brand adoption through native creator studios](/growth-ideas/roblox-brand-adoption-through-native-creator-studios/) - 2 shared channels
- [ROI example gallery for native integration adoption](/growth-ideas/roi-example-gallery-for-native-integration-adoption/) - 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage
- [Integration hub with browse-and-build in one place](/growth-ideas/integration-hub-with-browse-and-build-in-one-place/) - 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage

## Read GrowthDex essays

Browse the plain-English essay index at [GrowthDex Blog](/blog/).

## Related GrowthDex essays

- [The first patron should prove the next creator](/blog/the-first-patron-should-prove-the-next-creator/) - creator economy, membership, marketplaces

## Advisory

If you want help turning this into a working growth system, Ian Goh offers advisory at https://iangoh.com/advisory.